LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the life and career of former New
York State Governor Mario M. Cuomo, and expressing sincerest sorrow upon
the occasion of his death

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those individuals of distinguished purpose whose lives have been
committed to public service in the pursuit of excellence in the conduct
of the legislative process in this great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Mario M. Cuomo, three-term governor, died on Thursday, Janu-
ary 1, 2015, in Manhattan, at the age of 82; and
WHEREAS, Born in Queens on June 15, 1932, Mario Matthew Cuomo was the
fourth child of Andrea and Immaculata Cuomo; unable to speak English,
they came to the United States from the province of Salerno, south of
Naples, settling at first in Jersey City, New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, Mario M. Cuomo grew up in the Queens neighborhood of South
Jamaica; as a young boy, he worked alongside his family members at the
grocery store which they owned and operated; and
WHEREAS, In 1949, after graduating from St. John's Preparatory School
in Queens, Mario M. Cuomo pursued his love of baseball and played on the
freshman baseball team at St. John's University; three years later, at
the age of 19, he signed a contract to play center field for the Class D
Brunswick Pirates in Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Due to an injury doing what he loved best, his baseball
career was short-lived and Mario M. Cuomo returned to his studies, and
graduated in 1953 from St. John's University where he majored in Latin
American studies, English and Philosophy; and
WHEREAS, The recipient of a scholarship, Mario M. Cuomo enrolled in
St. John's Law School; it was at this time, he met his future wife,
Matilda N. Raffa, a fellow student; Mario and Matilda proudly raised
five children; and
WHEREAS, Mario M. Cuomo's first position as a lawyer was serving as
the confidential assistant to Judge Adrian P. Burke of the New York
State Court of Appeals, which he would reshape 30 years later by
appointing all seven members, including Judith S. Kaye, the first woman
to serve as chief judge; and
WHEREAS, Mario M. Cuomo joined a Brooklyn law firm, Corner, Weisbrod,
Froeb & Charles, in 1963, and the following year, began his distin-
guished service to the public; and
WHEREAS, 1974 was the year Mario M. Cuomo entered politics and was
named Secretary of State; in this capacity, he was responsible for
numerous tasks some of which included settling strikes as well as medi-
ating land disputes; and
WHEREAS, Four years later, Hugh L. Carey was reelected Governor of the
State of New York, and Mario M. Cuomo was elected as Lieutenant Gover-
nor; and
WHEREAS, On November 2, 1982, at age 50, Mario M. Cuomo became the
52nd man to be elected New York's governor, defeating businessman Lewis
E. Lehrman by approximately 180,000 votes; and
WHEREAS, A resolute leader and renowned orator, Mario M. Cuomo deliv-
ered the keynote address at the 1984 Democratic National Convention in
San Francisco, the speech which was the high-water mark of his national
political career; and
WHEREAS, Deciding not to run for President of the United States, Mario
M. Cuomo focused his political energies to the citizens of the State of
New York and together with the Legislature, established a new ethics
code which governed state and local officials and State employees; he
proclaimed 1988 the beginning of the decade of the child, 1989 the year

to fight drug abuse, and when he won his third term as Governor in 1990,
the year of the environment; and
WHEREAS, Following his extraordinary career in public office, Mario M.
Cuomo returned to Manhattan to work for the law firm of Willkie Farr &
Gallagher, write books and give speeches; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Matilda N. Cuomo, Mario M. Cuomo is
survived by his five children, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Dr. Margaret I.
Cuomo, Maria Cuomo Cole, Madeline Cuomo O'Donohue, and Christopher
Cuomo, as well as 14 grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Every citizen in New York State has most certainly benefit-
ted, in one way or another, from the deep dedication and caring concern
Mario M. Cuomo brought to his work as their Governor, a leader and self-
less public servant; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations in a
moment of silent tribute to Mario M. Cuomo, whose generous and thought-
ful concern for the welfare of others enhanced the lives of those so
fortunate to have called him family, colleague and friend, and to
express its deepest condolences to his family; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Mario M. Cuomo.